Pneumatic card-stripper system



July 1927' W. H. GOLDSMITH PNEUMATIC CARD STRIPPER SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Shet 1 July 3121921.

WZH.GQLDSMWH PNEUMATIC CARD STRIPPER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 9, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 1 635,834 July 1 w. GOLDSMITH v PNEUMATIC CARD STRIPPER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 9. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 192 1,635,834 1 July 7 w. H. GOLDSMITH y PNEUMATIC CARD TRIPPER SYSTEM Filed Dec. '9. 1926 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J :1 1 V J04 bZL'VfiJT': W g- MJMM/ @M, QMQQM Patented July 12,1927. 1 1,635,834

"UNITED: stares Parent orrrcs.

WILLIAM n'eonnsn crn, or BROOKLINE, MessAonUsETTs, ASSIGNOB To. A IneT'on TEXTILE MACHINERY woun on BosToN, MAssAGHUSETTs, A Tuner,

PNEUMATIC GARD-STRIPPER s sTnM.

Application filed December 9,1926. se ial no. 153,555.

The invention is an improvementin pneuclass heretofore in use, and under this head 55 matic stripper equipment of the general may be noted'the exceedingly important coclass composed of those equipments which ordinate object of enabling a plurality of are organized to: extractby means of suction carding engines to be stripped simultane- 5 waste fibers, dirt, dust, and the like, from ously, which is something that has notxbeen among the teeth of card-clothed surfaces, found feasible in practice with the suctionmore especially the peripheral surfaces of stripper equipment heretofore in use.y]?rimain cylinders, doifers, and other carding ma-rily, the importance of enabling a pluralelements of carding engines; and to convey ity of carding engines to be stripped simul- 10 the strippings, dirt, dust, etc., bythe'fiow taneously resides in the possibility attained of air to a. suitable place of discharge or dethereby of bulking within the pipingposit, for instance into a collecting and filsystem the strippings thus taken simultanetering receiver. ouslyfrom the said plurality of cardinglen- Suction stripper. equipmenthas attained gines. What is meant by bulking, and the an important standing in the art. It has beneficial results secured thereby, are eX- competed successfully with other means for plained lateron in this specification; -Sec- 7 effecting card stripping, and it has stiperondly, in addition to the beneficial results in seded the latter to aconsiderable extent by question, the ability to strip a plurality of reason Of'its convenience andzof its various carding engines simultaneously is of great advantages. Among the last are the quick economical advantage.

performance of stripping operations there- Another general object is to provide equip- 7 by, without dissemination of dust and flym-ent of the said class adapted to be utilized ings in the air in the neighborhood of the for important ancillary purposes which have carding engines, and without injury to the not been subserved heretofore in the case of teeth of the card-clothed surfaces that are prior related equipment.

stripped. In addition to these various ad- Curl is a'change or"alteration in the state vantages, the convenience of having the mator condition I of the fibrous material comters which are removed from' the carding prised in the strippingsand constituting the -engineconveyed pneumatically to a suitable largest proportion of the bulk thereof. =This o receiver may be mentioned. Stripping by change or alteration is of economic imporsuction is performed in actual practice with tance in many instances, in which, through but short interruption of the productive lowering the quality or grade of the stripworking of the carding engines, inasmuch pings, it lessens the desirability of the stripas the suction is caused to act in connection pings for re-worlting purposes, and conse- 35 with the required card-clothed surface or quently lessens correspondingly the market surfaces during rotation of the cylinder and value and salability of the strippings. dofter, without lessening the speed of rota- Avoidance of curl, it will be obvious, is an tion thereof, with merely the feed at the exceedingly important practical desid'eralicker-in end of the machine suspended ten'itum. Such avoidance means better condi- 4u porarily; this suspension not being invarition of the strippings and better adaptation able, so that sometimes there is no int-errupand fitness for reworking, suitability for use tion. Suction stripper equipment has still for purposes for which strippings full of other. convenient and desirable features. curl are not suitable, and enhanced sail-abil- The generalobiects of the presentinvenity andmarket value.

45 tion are three-fold. One of the said general The nature of the invention is explained objects is to provide suction stripper equipin the following specification with reference 1 ment capable of operating eiiiciently without to the illustrative embodiment of the feaproduction of so-called curl, a tendency to tures of the invention which is shown in the which has been an incident to the operation accompanying drawings, andth-e said fea- 0 of equipment of the said class as constituted tures are particularly pointed out in the heretofore. v claims at the close of thisspecification.

Another of the said general objects is to, I In the drawings,- p produce pneumatic stripper equipment of ,Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a group of greater efiiciency than equipment of the said carding engines hav ng combined therewith certain portions of a suction-stri iiper equipment emhod vine the invention.

Fig. 2, Sheet:- 22, is a perspective view, on a larger scale than .l ig. 1 showing portions of one o t the carding engines of Fig. l and of the suction-stripper appliance of Fig. 1..

Fig. 3. Sheet 3. is a diae'ranunatic view illustrating on a small scale in sirnpliiied term a small group of carding engines havin combined therewith a general equipment containing: the various Features of the in veution.

Fig.1. 4. Sheet 2. is a sectional view on a scale similar to that oi Fig. showing more particularly one form of vacuum equalizing valve.

Fig. 5. Sheet t, is a view showing a second torn] of vacuum equalizing: valve. in coinhination with a portion oi a vacuum main, and with a vacuum pump.

l igr. h. t lheet i, is a view similar to Fin. ti. showing, means i or controlliiu. automatically the working oi the vacuum pump so as to maintain a predetermined worliine degree oil. vacuum within the piping-system.

The elements. relations, etc., of the sue tion-stripper equipment that is shown in the drawings will first be briefly referred to, as follows The said equipment is organized, etc., to etlect the stripping of the main cylinder 1 (Figs. 1 and 2) and dotiencylinder 2 oi. each of the carding engines of a series of the latter. Only three carding engines are shown hut in practice the pipinp system, and the series ot stripper applianc s etc. are eoextensive with the much larger series of carding engines which generally is employed in a mill.

Each carding engine shown in the drawings has comhined thertuvith a suction-strippe appliance oi well-known type and form. comprisinga. suctioirhox 4J1. Figs. 1 and 2, and associated nozzles t, ti, the mouth or in let oi the nozzle ihaving: working relatimis in close proximity to the surtaee of the cardclothing: oi. the main cylinder 1 of such engine, and the mouth or inlet of the nozzle 5 having working; relations in close proximity to the surface of the card-clothing of the do tl'er-eylindtu' Q.

The suction-hex 41 ot the suction-stripper appliance of each oi the res 'iective, carding engines is in connnunieation through a hosepipe ti with an overhead trunk-pipe or main. 7. which is in counnunieat-ion with a receiver 8. Fig. In practice, the said trunk-pipe or main. inchu'lingr its extensions and hrauches. is coextensive with the series oi cardinp engines which it serves. At 9 is air-exhausting means. constituted by an airpump, connected by a pipe 91 with the re- By means of such air-pump air is eelver. withdrawn from the receiver, the trunk-pipe or main, and the suction-boxes, to produce the required degree of caliaustion or vacuum; in such elements oi the system.

llrietly, summarized, the trunk-pipe or main 7, includingitsextensionsand hranches, constitutes a piping-system having: the vari ous suetiou-st'ripper appliances o t' the equip-- ment connected theiewith. so as to receive from such appliances ilow ot' air and material pa sing through ill. appliances. and the said piping system heiue itselt connected with the receiver and discharging into the latter.

llach rtltllt lrlit X it is i'urnished with a valve lit in connection with the pasmrueway therctln'oun'h. such valve heiue manually opcrahle to close or open said passageway so as to prevent or permit inilow oi air through the air-inlets. When .st-ri 'ipiugr is to he eticc ed hy means o if the Stlfll1Ptl'flit'lZZltft ot a given suction box. the -alve e12 of such suet ion hox is placed in open condition; on the completion oi a stripping), operation such valve is placed in closed condition. and it remains in the latter condition until stripping is to he peri rn'md again by the said stripperaiozzles.

In operation. withdrawal oi. air from the receiver through the action oi the airpmnp induces ilow oi air from the main 7 into the receiver, and in addition thereto ilow ot' air inward into the main through the '|nlets ot those nozzles which tor the time iciue are in open communication with the main through the associated suction-lumen and hose-pipes t). 6. thus crat ing the eil'ecti oi suction at such inlets. liy such suction the filters. dirt. dust, etc, crnnpacted among the teeth oi the card-clothed surfaces to which the inlets are presented are extracted i'rom the cardwlothiug'. and hy the air--n|oveiuent through hose (3 and piping" 7 the material thus e\tractcd is conveyed to the receiver.

The specific construction oi the suctionstripper appliances is not material. so far as the invention is concerned. Nor is the numher oi; nozzles with which one of such appliances is furnished material to the invention.

Sometimes in practice, as is well-lnuiwn, a suction-stripper appliance on the order oi that shown in the drawings in conntaJt-ion with each of the carding engines has heen provided with a single suction-inletg tor service in stripping: the main cylinder. alone of a. carding engine, or the doller-ovlinder thereoi' alone, or other carding element thereof. as has been desired, hutusually Such an appliance has hecn equipped with two strippennozzles, as in the case oi the equi 'unent shown in the drawings, in order to provide thereby tor stripping the cylinder and dotl'er simultaneously by means of two suctiondnlets.

it is of course veil-l nowu that for successiul suction trippin one requisite is that the air-inlets oi the suction appliances must;

lit)

ll i

of the Working therewith oi? air from points external to the card-clothing. Another requisite is that the "81daI1 l11l(tS EilSO, must be so proportioned in respect of their cross-sectional area that air shall enter an inlet under the urge oi" the external atmospheric pressurein a concentrated streanre rerting its influence Within a very small localized area among the said teethat such inlet. These two requirements must be met, in order to attain a degree of lifting power sufiicient for successful and satisfactory disengagement, by suction, of the fibers, dirt, dust, etc, from among the teeth of the card-clothing or cylinders and doi'lers, etc, of carding engines, some of which materials is embedded more or less compactly around the baseportions of such teeth. I

Inpractice, in recognition of the second requirements which have just been stated, the air-inlets of the suction ap-. pliances of a suction stripper are given the form of narrow slots. Also, usually the stripping action is caused to. take place progressively, lengthwise of the cylinder operated upon, in connection with successive' small portionshot the length thereof, each of such portions being only a small "fractional portion oi the saidlength. The progressive stripping lengthwise of the cylinder is provided for in different known ways in the case of different types of vacuum stripper equipment. In the case of an equipment employing a 5, such as shown in the drawings, it is provided for through the employment of mechanism whereby, while the carding elements are in rotation, the nozzle or nozzles is or are traversed bodily from one side (it the carding engine to the other, throughout the run length of the cardaclothed surface or surfaces oi: the rotating cylinder, or (lon er, or cylinder and (lotion -One customary means or traver ii f the said nozzle or nozzles comprises a travel sew-screw of Well-knm-vn character havingitsshalt a3, Figs. 1 and 2. geared to the (letter-gear, the latter-and the customary gearing, being enclosed by the (lettergear guard 431. Except during a stripping operation, the said gearing is held discon nected from the dolier-gear, as for example, by means of a manually operable lifting lever 41-32, Fig. 2, with the suction-stripper i iliin'ge at the starting point of its traver'e.-

ThGllOSG-PIPQ (5 connecting the suction stripthe overhead piping-sysper-appliance with tem is of sufiicient flexibility to permit its causes of its production has or nozzle or nozzles l, thereof (that is to say,

capacity,

capacity of the inletappliance,

at one sidenof the carding enginef It Willbe understood that duringthis traversing movement, air entering with considerable velocity into the nozzle-inlet or inlets, from among the teeth of the'cardclothing of the cylinder, or doffer, or both, as the case may be, extracts the fibers, dirt, dnst,etc.,1trom amongthe teeth ofthe successive portions or card-clothing with which said inlet or inlets assumes or assume stripping relations;

Having in thei oregoing introductory mattersummarized the features and mode of operation of suction-stripper equipment on the order oil that to Whichthe present invention' is applicable, I \villproceed now to e plain the invention.

Although the occurrence of curl in the fibrouscomponent ofthe' strippings within suction-stripper equipment has been recog nized heretofore as undesirable and as something to be avoided if possible, the cause or have not been understood, and how to obviate the same has not been discovered prior to my present invention. 1 have experimented exhauscause or causes, and the manner or means of the said occurrence, and have discovered that the production of curl inthe practical operation of the suction-stripper equipment heretofore known is associated with certain characteristicswvhich 1 have found in the said equipment. r s

Snctionetripping equipment established hercto-fore in manufacturing plants has been characterized by'having the pi1lng-system the piping intermediate the suction-stripping appliance and the receiver and air-exhausting means) C0111- pos'ed of piping of relatively small cross sectional area. By reason of the said small cr' s-sectional area, the said piping has been of relatively-small volumetric displacement In brief, the crosssectional area and capacity or the piping embraced in the said system have corresponded closely, usually, with; the cross-sectional area and or" one suctionstripper or with the combined cross-sectional area and ca pa city oi the usual two inlets of a suctien-stripper. ripartfrom cer tain other practical considerations to which reference is made iinnediately hereinafter,

such small cross sectional area is objection able, I have discovered, because of contributinguiateriallyto the production of curl. In short, I have found that it scrippings e pullcd or carried at high speed through a restricted opening or passageway, injury to the fiber-"through the production of curl begins. Hence, the injury consequent to being tively in the undertaking to ascertain such loo ill!

pulled or carried thrinigh piping of small crriss-sectional area. The other practical considerations to which I have referred just llDtlVt are as tollows:--On account of the relatively small cross-sectional area of the piping, and the resulting frictional impedance to air-movcment through the piping, the vi'ihunetric [low and the degree of vacuum proiiluccd within the portions of piping, more remote from the air-exlniusting means and the receiver are considerably reduced. Hence, the degree of vacuum at the conflucure of a suetion-stripper appliance with the piping is much less than that at the receiver and a i,1.'ex'hau.-: tin;1' means. At this point it should he stated that the necessity t'or producine' within the receiver a high degree of vacuum, in order to secure eti'ective suction at the suefirm-stripper inlets, has required a correspondingly strengthened and consequently expensive. construction of receiver and piping. in order to enable them to withstand the tizaidency to collapse.

Moreover by reason oi the small cros sectional internal proportions of the piping heretofore. the air displacement: within the piping at and near the confluence oi the strippcr devices with the main has not been great enough wilumet'ri ally to iiroduce the most etl'ectivc suction at: the inlet or inlets, not \vilhstamling the high degree of vacuum at and adjoining the receiver. The degree of vacuum usually attained at the inlet or inlets has been that represented by the lifting" of a column ot mercury one inch; the maximum found attaiiiable in the case oi. the usual eoui nnent has been that which is represented through the lifting of: a mercury column two inches. l urthern'lore, because ot' the dctieiencv ot' the suction it has not been found feasible to strip more than one carding" engine at the same time through the cmplovmcnt ot a iilurality of suction-strip pcr appliances cmmected with the same piping. The practice in the past has been to strip the carding engines of a series one at a time in succession, employing a single suction-stripper appliance for the series and shil'tiimit .trom one carding engine to another. trans lerrinp; the hosepipe from time to time from one point of connection with the overhead piping to another such point.

To sum up: The list; of deficiencies thus tar rctcrrcd to. of the old suction-stripper equipment. include the feature of its small piping; and insullicieney of vacuum adjacent the stripper-device, the considerable frictional impedance, the high vacuum necessary to he nuiintained within the receiver and adjacent portions Of such piping, the expensive construction necessitated thereby, the small volumetric displacement of air effected within the piping by means of the air-movement toward the receiver, the stripping efficiency held down by the relatively small internal volumetric displacement, and the inability to strip more than one carding engine at the same time. To these is to be added the important drawback consisting in the tendency to change or alteration of the state or condilion oi, the tihrous material so as to lower its grade and desirability t'or re-ivorking purposes, and lessen its re-saie value. By two important improvements in suctionstripper equipnunt, in volviup the adoption of two leading' principles, one of such improvements pa vine" the way for the other, I not only have attained important results inv respect o'l avoiding; the 'tormat'ion o't curl and improving the condition in which the librous component oi the i-itrippings is left, but have produced a s1n-t..ion-stri 1iper equipment oi greatly enhanced el'lieiei'iey. The said improvements, moreover, remedy certain conditions, etc, ot' the prior equipment that from the stand iioint of the present invcntion may be regarded as tlPllClGllClQS.

The first oil the u'inciples referred to in-- volvcs, essentially, the utilization, throughout the piping-system o'l; a suction-stripper equipment tor (lll'tlll'lg engines, or other Inachines having toothed working surfaces, that is to say, throughout the said system as far as the continence oi? the suction-st;ripper With the pipino-svstcm. ot a working degree of vacuum that is substantially uniform With the degree of vacuum at the air-exhausting means pertaining to the equipment. I have discovered that. under conditions producing within the piping system, as far as the con" itlueuce ot the suction-strippcr with the pip inn-system. a working degree of vacuum that. is substantially unit'orm with the degree of vacuum at the ainexhaustinni'noans and the receiver, the product ion oi curl is eliminated or substantially so, and, further, much higher elliciency in strippii'ip; is attained. Finch conditions have not been attained heretotore, and the necessity and importance thereof have not been 'icrccived, so Far as I am aware.

So Far as is known to me, this principle has never been applied in connection with a suction-stripper system heretofore. The adoption thereof produces, also, an equip ment having; greatly increasei'l capacity and capabilities, .rei'iderinn' it feasible to ope ate a plurality ot' s1nation-stripper appliances concurrently or sinmliaueously at a plurality of carding engines for stripping purposes, and thereby rendering it practicable to apply and utilize the second of the principles aforesaid, which consists in the bulking, to which retermice has been made, of stripping-s within the piping-systen'i through feeding into the said pipingsystem, the strippings from a plurality of carding engines simultaneously, so that the greater portions thereof; shall pass onward in a more or less assembled or collective volume. As will be up parent, this capability for operating suctionstripper appliances concurrently or simultaneouslyi onfa plurality of machines gives great economical advantages and importance.

in carrying the invention into effect I employ a piping-system comprising' a main or acuum chamber suchas that shown at 7 in the drawings,embodying new principles enabling a very much more etl'ective suction to inlets, and'securing new and advantageous rest This main or vacuumchamber is characterized by a large cross-sectionalarea and proportionately large volumetric capacity. It is constituted by a cylinder of relatively large internal diameter,considerably exceeding in cross-sectional area the combined cross-sectional areas of the suctioninlets of a plurality oi suction-appliances. Usually in practice I employ in connection with this new main or vacuum chamber 7 hose-pipes 6, 6, etc., corresponding in number with the carding engines, every carding be produced and maintained at the stripper engine having its own associated hose-pipe ii. In practice 1 permit all of these hosepipes (3, 6, to remain permanently inplace, constituting connections leading to the said main or vacuum chamber from suctionsrripper appliances remaining permanently mounted in working relations with the cardclothed elements ofthe respective carding ei'i 'ines. In the drawings each hose-pipe is intake pipe 61 main or vacuum chamber, while the lower end of each hose-pipe is shown engaged with the suction box 41 of a suction-stripper ap pliauce. EX ept while a stripping operation isbeing performed by'a given suction-stripper appliance the manually operable valve atiZthereofis in closed position. M I

The large vo lunietric capacity general mode of operation is as follows: The vacuum chamber 7 being incommunication with the receiver 8, the withdrawal of air from said receiver and the vacuum chamber, by means-0t air-pump 9 will producea working degree of vacuum within the main or vacuum chamber which throughout the length of the latter will be substantially uniform with the degree of vacuum at the said airrpump. In fact, the large volumetric displacement apacity' oi": the main or vacuum chamber, coupled with that oi the large hose-pipes 6, 6, which I eu'iploy will provide as far as the Ftripper-in.cts working degree of vacuum having such uniformity. the valve 412 of a given suctio'nebox and associated hose-pipe 6 will permit inflow of air through the inlets of the nozzles of such suctioirbox, and through the hose-pipe, to'the vacuum chamber, and-create thereby the suction by which the card-clothed elements of the corresponding carding engine will be of air in such the upper end of 10111Qd to ashort length or extending down irom the heretofore required in the case of the The opening of stripped. Turning or theliiter-lerer e32 sectional capacities of the inlets of the group of"suction-stripper appliances which it is planned to have in use at any one time, external air will be caused by atmospheric pressure to flow inward through the individual inlets of the said group at a velocity very much higher than that of airmovement taking place within the vacuum chambertoward the receiver and air-pump, in tlie eiiort to balance the 'with'drawalo't' air from the vacuum chamber by the air-pump. Hence, without exceeding moderate velocity of air within the Vacuum chamber in the direction of the receiver and air-pump, it is possible to occasion within the large-capacity main or vacuum chamber a displacement direction sufiicien t to induce air-inflow through the inlet or inlets of one or more suction-stripper appliances at an accelerated velocity giving highly effective stripping, and greatly in excess of the capacity 't'or inflow in the case ofthe inlet or inlets of the suction-stripper appliance of a single carding engine. f r

' he large cross-sectional area otthe main or vacuum chamber 7 enables the air occupying such chamber to flow therein toward the receiver 8, on its way to the arirfpump 9, with much less frictional resistance than heretofore in the case 01"- the small-capacity piping to which reference has "been made in explaining the prior art. uniformity throughout all portions of the main or vacuum .chambe in respect of the degree of partial vacuum than in the case ofthe'said piping. 'A much lower degree or vacuum within the vacuum chamber than smallcapacity of piping will meet all the usual requirements of practical operation.

v The sti'ippings,wliicli in bulk are chiefly fibers, pass through the vacuum chamber and are collected in the receiver, without curl, and hence are much superior in appearance, much more workable, and more valuable, their price in the market being considerablyenhanced. r V

' One featureot theinvention enables the conditioner the strippings-to be still further improvettin respecto'f the avoidance of curl; namely, by bulking, as it may be termed, the strippings within the main or vacuum chamber, through feeding into the the greaterportions thereo'tshall become as- There is greater ill) selnblcd together and pass onward in a collective volume, and in a state of accumulated bulk land together in the receiver. This feature consists in the combination with the large volumetric arpacity main or vacuum chamber having throughout the same a working degree oi vacuum that is substantially uniform with that at the air-exhaust ing means, of a plurality of suction-stripper appliances by which a corresponding plurality of carding engines are stripped simultaneously, all of said appliances delivering their strippings at the same time into the vacuum chamber as to become more or less assembled into somewhat collected volume passing onward in bulk, without the same tendency to become compacted into tut'ts and to form into strings as the case when the relatively small supply of strippings from a single carding engine progressively ted in. I am enabled to acco1nplish this simultaneous stripping of a pinrality off carding engines by reason of the volumetric displacement of air within the vacuum chamber toward the receiver being suflicicnt to induce air-inflow through the inlets of a plurality of suction-appliances at one time with substantial uniformity in the suction at all of such suction-appliances, and having ample efiiciency tor stripping the said plurality of carding engines. It is customary in the employment of my invention in practice to strip either three or four carding engines simultaneously. Thus, in accordance with my invention, in stripping the series of carding engines in the ca rd room of a mill, they usually are stripped in successive groups of three or tour. although for special reasons a single carding engine maybe stripped at a given time, or two might be. This is provided for through nnmipulation of the valves l2, il-E. a2, oi? the suction-stripper appliances ot' the respective carding engines.

in the case of the main or vacuum chamber i of large volumetric capacity the airmoveme'nt ordinarily is much larger volumetrically than the capacity tor inflow in the case of the inlet or inlets oi the suctionstripper appliance oi a single carding eugine, and larger even than the latter capacity in the case of the suction-stripper appliances of two carding engines. It follows that ii the stripping action should he die continued in the case of one of the stripperappliances of the three or tour designed to be in operation at one time, as by closing the valve 12 of such appliance. the velocity of inflow of air through the inlets oi the remaining stripper-appliances of such numher, and through the associated hose-pipes, would be considerably increased. unless provision were made to etl'ect tompensation. By rnison ot the increase oi velocity just mentioned, and resulting whippin friction,

etc, in passing through the working nozzles and their associated hosepipes, the strippings as accumulated in the receiver would be in a more or less in'ipaircd condition. In order to obviate this, I provide compensating means, controlled by the degree oi vacuum. acting automatically to maintain a piialctermined working degree of vacuum within the main or vacuum chamber. The compensation may be elleeted in dillerent ways. in one case 1 malcc provision for equalizing the volumetric supply of air to the main or vacuum chamber in a manner which leaves the velocity oi inflow through the still active strippe appliances and their hose-pipes substantially undisturbed when the action of a strippeuappllance previously associated with them in operation. discontinued. For this purpose I provide in connection with the system an equalizing valve. Une 'l'orm ot' equalizing valve is shown at it). .l igs. ll and l. A second form is shown in Fig. In Figs. 3 and l the valve shown applied to an airvent opening in connection with the pipe 91 extending from the receiver 8 to the airpump 9, the sealingmembcr lUl being held norn'ially against a rent at the inner side of the said opening through the conjoint action of an expanding spiral spring 105 and a weighted lever 1052, both acting in connection with the spindle 1.03 of the said sealing-niember. Adjust-- mont ot a weight ltlel along the weight-car-- rying arm oil the said lever will vary the degree of vacuum within the chamber at which the valve will open. The said equalizingvalve substantially equalizes the degree oil vacuum within the vacuum chamber at all times while the air-pump is in operation, and whether stripping is being etiecied in the case oi one, two, three. or four carding engines. In addition it will obviate collapse or other injury in case all of the stripper-ii'ilets should be closed at any given time. Fig. 5 shows an erpializing valve arrangement in which a movable valve-member E200 held by means of a weight 201 down upon a valve-scat 20:2 within a tube 203 tunining downwardly from a horizontal porlion oi the pipe 91 interimuliale the receiver and the air-pump.

Fig. (3 shows an arrangement comprising means [or controlling auti'nnatically the working of the air-pump so as to maintain a predetermined working degree of vacuum within the piping-svstcin. in this arrangement the vertically movable valve--member 300 is connected by means oi a rod 501 with the lever 302 ot a rhcostat ctmlrolling electrical driving mechanism for the air-pump. Movement oi the valve due to increased rate of inflow of air through the downwardlyopening tube 303 will move lever 302 in one direction. to reduce the speed of the airpump. A decreased rate of inl'lovv will pe1- chines to extract by suction mit the Weight 304 to move the'said leveroppositely seas to increase the speedof the air-pump. 1 7

As a further feature of invention, 1 combine with the main, 7, of a vacuum' system having suction-stripper appliances cooperating with carding engines substantially as shown, intakes 11 and 12, Fig. 3. The intake 11 has a considerable length of flexible hose lll comiected therewith, for use as a means of cleaning various-parts of the machinery, the floor, etc, and taking up the trash, hulls. and other refuse materials contained in the usual receptacles which are provided in thecase of card valve 112 in connection with such hose or with the intake connection ll'provides for permitting or discontinuing the flow of air through the said hose, etc. Intake 12 on tends down to near the floor, its open end being supported at a short distance above the surface of the latter by means of legs 121, so that bulk or volume material such as fiatstrippings, may be thrown under the said open end, within the influence of currents of air entering such end. The flow of air inwarc through the open end of intake 12 and through the latter into the main 7 may be permittedor discontinued, through opening or closing a valve 122 in connection with the said intake. The respective materials entering the mainthrough the respective intakes 11 and 12 may be delivered from the latter 'hrough a connection 71, ff? 3, into receiver 8 at a time when it is empty of other contents, or may be caused to'pass on to one or more dilferent receivers or delivery points, not shown, through an extension 72 of the main. The refuse matter, lint, etc, taken up by hose-pipe 111 will be kept from admixture with the cylinder and doffer-strippings, as well as from the fiatstrippings which are taken up by the intake 12.

The use of compensating or equalizing means in connection with the vacuum system, besides equalizing the degree of vacuum whether a l single earning engine is being stripped, or two, three, or four are being stripped simultaneously, makes possible the use of lighter pipe and receiver materials, thereby greatly reducing manufacturing costs, inasmuch as such means enables extremely high pressure to be avoided. thereby eliminating danger of collapse of the vacuumchamberor receiver.

What is claimed as the invention is 1. A suction-stripper system comprisin essentially, a plurality of suction-strippers operating concurrently at a plurality of mawaste, dirt, etc, from among'the teeth of card-clothed surfaces of the said plurality of machines simultaneously, air-exhausting means, and a piping-system ordimensions giving volu 1g engines. A'

metric displacement capacity at least equal to the combined displacement capacity of the inlets of said plurality of suction-strip pers', and also providing as far as t-he confluence of the said suction-stri-ppers vith thee-aid piping-system a working degree of vacuum substantially uniform with the dcgree of vacuum at the said air-exhausting means. r V

2. A suction stri-pper system comprising, essentially, a plurality of suction-strippers operating concurrently at a plurality of machines to extract by suction waste, dirt, etc, from among tlieteeth ofthe card-clothed surfaces of the said plurality of machines,

air-exhausting means, and a piping-system including a filtering receiver and having volumetric displacement capacity at least equal to the combined volumetric displacement capacity of the inlets of said plurality of suction-strippers, and also providing as far as the confluence of the said suction strippers with the piping-system a working degree of vacuum that is substantially uniform withthe degree of vacuum at the said air-exhausting means;

3. A suction-stripper system comprising, essentially, extract by suction waste, dirt, etc., from among the teeth of card-clothing, a vacuum pump, and a piping-system of dimensions giving volumetric displacement capacity providing as far as the confluence of the said suction-stripper with the said piping-systeni a working degree-of vacuum that is substan tially uniform with the degree of vacuum at the pump.

ljA suction-stripper system comprising, essentially, a suction-stripper operating to extractby suction waste, dirt, etc, from among the teethof card-clothing, a vacuum pump, and a pipingsystem having volumetric displacement capacity providing as far asthe stripping-inlet a working degree of vacuum that is substantially uni form with the degree of vacuum at the pump.

5. A suction-stripper system comprising, essentially, a suction-stripper operating to extract by suction waste, dirt, etc, directly from among the teeth of card-clothing, a vacuum pump, and a piping-system including a filtering receiver and having volumetric displacement capacity providing as far. as the confluence of the said suction-stripper with the said piping-system a working degree'of vacuum that is substantially uniform with the degree of vacuum at the pump. 1

6. A" suction-stripper system comprising, essentially, a suction-stripper operating to, extract by suction'waste, dirt, etc, directly from among the teeth of card-clothing, a vac uum pump, and a piping-system including a filtering receiver and having volumetric displacementcapacity providing as far as the stripper-inlet a working degree of vacuum a suctionstripper operating to till that substantially uniform with the de gree of vacuum at the pump.

T. .ln a s11ction-stripper system for arch clothed surtaceet the combination with a plurality ol' carding engines, of a plurality of suction-strippers ope 'ating simultaneously to extract by suction waste, dirt etc., directly l'rom anurng the teeth ot' the said plurality of carding engines, air-enhausting means having at- :1 practi 'al working speed volumetric d splacement capacity suitable for production o't' elt'cetire stripping suction at the, reepoctire stripping inlets ot the said sinnihantmus wpcratire plural" of suction-stripptni. em having it) am a piping-s rohnnetric displacement c: pacities at least equal to the combined *olunietric displacement capacity oi the inlets of said plurality oi euction-atrip :ers, and also providing in connection with the imulianeously-oporative tri.pper-inlets a working degree ot Vacuum that is substantially uniform with the degree of vacuum at the said, air-cxhalisting means.

o. in a suction-strippcr sy tem for cardlothcd surlaces. the combination with :1 phe r: lity o't carding engines. of a plurality of anction-strip n operating simultaneously to extract by .--'1u -tion waster dirt; etc. directly trom among the teeth 01 ihe said plurality of carding engines. air-exhaustin; means having at :1 practical working e'peed volumetric displacement capacity suitable for 'lroduction o1" etlectiie stripping suction at the respective stripping inlets ot. the aaid imultaneouslyaiperatire plurality of suctio11-i trippers and a piping-spatetn inch1ding a tilterinn receiver and having rohuuetric dis 1hu-e1ueut capacities at least equal to the combined displacement capacity of the inleta ot said plurality of s11: tion-strippere and aloe proi'idiugr in connection with the simultuneously-o :cratire series of suctitm-stripper-inlets a working dcgg'rec ol' vacuum that is substantially unit'orm with the degree at racuiuu a the said air-exl1a11atineaneane,

1). la a: suetiou-stripper syate111 for card clothed suel aces. the co111bi11ation with :1 plurality of carding; taugiines. ol :1 plurality ol auctioiielt'rippers operating simultancanisl to extract by suction wastiu dirt. etc. through their inlets directly from among the teeth of the said plurality ot' carding e11- piina-i, air-cxhaustinp; ineana having at a practical working: speed volumetric displacement capacity auitahle for production of etit'c tii'c s"rippin; suctior at the re pcctire 1 r pping inlets ol the said si111ulta11eousl operative plurality of suction atrippeis. and :1 piphur-systen1 having volumetric dieplaccmcnt capacities at l ast equal to the combined volumetric displ:1cen1ei 1t capacity of the inlets ot said plur: lity ot s11ction-strippore and also proridimr as in i as the eontluence ot' the said plurality o'l' suction-strippers with the piping-system a practical working degree of vacuum substantially equal to that adjacent the said air-exhausting means.

10. .In a suction-stripper system for cardclothed surfaces, the combination with a plu rality ol carding engines, of a plurality of suction-strippers operating simultaneously to extract by suction waste. dirt, etc. through their inlets directly from among the teeth of the said plurality of carding engines, air-erhaueting means having: at :1 practical working speed volumetric displacement czpacity suitable for production of el't'ective stripping suction at the respective stripping inlets; oi the said si11111]ta11eo11sly-1i peative plurality o't' snotioirstrippers, and a pipingnystmn including a littering; receive" and having volumetric displacement -apacities at least; equal to the combined volumetric displacemcnt capacity of the inlets ot aaid plu 'ality ot' eucthin-strippera, and also providing an tar as the continence ot the Said plurality o l suction-strippers with the piping-systm11 a pr: rlical working degree of vacuum substantially equal to that adjacent. the air-erd1aust inn; means.

ll. :8 s11ctionstripper system comprising, esstnuially. ai1=exl1a11sti11g means, a plurality ol' suction-strippers adapted to operate imultancously to extract by auction waste dirt etc.. through their inletn directly 'tl'OHl among; the teeth of a plurality of :ardclothed aurtaces, and a piping'aystem with which the said euction-at-rippera respectively are coinhinml through individual flexible connectiona. said pipiu g-ayatcm having volumetric di aph1cen1cut c2 pacity at least equal to the combined volumetric (.lisplacement capacity of the inlets of said plur: lity ol. Sut'tlOil-SttlPlJHlri, and aleo providi11e'aa ta r at? the ('{llllllltlltt of the lttltjl. euctionetrippers with the piping-system a working; degree ol vacuum that is s11l$1stanti:1lly uniform with the degree ot acuum at the air-cahauatiup: means and that its :iulliiaent to etrect the said extraction by means ol" the said phu'ality ol. suction-strippers when tl'f)tl':ltlll si111ultaneously.

12. In. a suction-atripper equipment l'or :ard-clothed s1u'liurea the combination with a plurality of carding engines, 01' a plurality of suctioi1-strippers opcr: ting llllllll2lll(- ously to extract: by suction waste. ,lirt etc through their inlets directly from among the teeth of a plurality ot card-clothed surtacos, a iipi1ug-syste111 hariue air-exhmiat- .ing means by Which air is exhauated from the piping, the Said air-exhausting means having at a practi "at working speed volumetric displacement capacity sullicient to substantially obviate the production of curl and for production of etlj'ective stripping; suction at the respective stripping inlets, col, lectively, of the said simultznieously operatire plurality of suetion-strippers, and com Ill) a plurality of carding engines,

pensating means controlled by the degree of vacuum, acting automatically to maintain a predetermined Working degree of vacuum Within the piping-system regardless of the number of suction-strippers in action at any one time.

13.111 a suction-stripper equipment for the combination With of a pipingsystem having air-exhausting means by Which air is exhausted from the piping, a plurality of suction-strippers in connection with the said piping-system, operating simultaneously to extract by suction Waste, dirt, etc., directly from among the teeth of a pinrality of card-clothed surfaces, the said airexhausting means having at i a practical Working speed volumetric displacement capacity suflicient to substantially obviate the production of curl efl'ective stripping suction at the respective stripping inlets, collectively, of the said simultaneously operative plurality of suction strippers,and a relief-valve controlled by the degree of vacuum and acting automatically to maintain a predetermined Working degree of vacuum Within the piping-system regardless of the number of suctionstrippers in card-clothed surfaces,

action at any one time.

14. The combinationwith a plurality of carding engines, a vacuum main, air-exhausting means by which flow of air through such vacuum main is produced and a Working degree of vacuum is maintained therein,

and for production of a a plurality of suction-strippers providing for extractionof Waste, dirt,'etc., by suction from among the teeth of card-clothed surfaces of the respective carding engines, a

an intake connected with said vacuum main, adapted to induct volume-material requiring to be transported, and an intake having connected therewith a flexible suction-cleaning pipe, and valves by means of which iiow of air through the individual intakes into the vacuum mainmay be established and disestablished at Will. I

15. A suction-stripper equipment comprising essentially, a piping-system of dimensions giving volumetric displacement capacity at least equal to the combined volumetric displacement capacity of a plurality of suction-strippers, and sufficiently large to obviate substantially the production of curl in the strippings, means for exhausting air fromthe saidpiping-system having under, practical Working conditions volumetric displacement capacity suitable for inducing eii'ective stripping suction at thestripping in let-s of the plurality of strippers collectively, and the said pluralityoi suction-strippers, functioning simultaneously with a plurality of machines and operating to bulk Within the said piping-system the strippings from the said plurality of ma chines so as fibrous material as delivered from the piping-system.

WILLIAM H. GOLDSMITH.-

in connection a to improve the condition of the 

